R22 prices

[GirchyGirchy]

Just paid $273 for a service call and 3# of R22. IIRC the R22 was $53/#.

 

[nsula_country]

Just paid $273 for a service call and 3# of R22. IIRC the R22 was $53/#.

I'd say that was fair price and each party came out fairly treated. I charged about $65 when 22 was up a few years ago. $55 now.

CT

 

[exmaxima1]

Ditto with my dad.

I remember when R-12 cans were $1. Nobody really looked hard for leaks - they just kept a couple of cans around to top 'em off every spring.

I bought over a dozen clean cans of R-12 last year for under $10/can from a guy that worked in the electronics salvage industry. He said they used it to clean keyboards as it was more convenient then running an air compressor to blow the dust out---clearly PRE-regulations era. My AC friend claims that there were no issues with R-12 back then, it was non-toxic and doesn't burn. He won't go near some of the newer refrigerants, as they can cause cancer or neural disorders.

 

[bonneyman]

I bought over a dozen clean cans of R-12 last year for under $10/can from a guy that worked in the electronics salvage industry. He said they used it to clean keyboards as it was more convenient then running an air compressor to blow the dust out---clearly PRE-regulations era. My AC friend claims that there were no issues with R-12 back then, it was non-toxic and doesn't burn. He won't go near some of the newer refrigerants, as they can cause cancer or neural disorders.

10-4. R-12 was a near perfect refrigerant. Non-toxic, non-flammable at normal pressure, thermally stable to 800 deg F, great solubility with oil. A little known fact that only some old timers know - we used to add a little R-12 to R-22 systems that were having oil return problems. The R-12 would dissolve the oil better and keep it suspended so it would get back to the compressor.
I've not heard of R-12 being used as an industrial solvent but I have no reason to doubt it.
The chlorinated hydrocarbons were great solvents. Before it was banned, R-11 was widely used in industry to clean components. With a boiling temp of around 75 degrees, you could easily store it as a liquid and once used, simply let it dry to room temp and the stuff would evaporate leaving no residue.

 

[Jim greengo]

10-4. R-12 was a near perfect refrigerant. Non-toxic, non-flammable at normal pressure, thermally stable to 800 deg F, great solubility with oil. A little known fact that only some old timers know - we used to add a little R-12 to R-22 systems that were having oil return problems. The R-12 would dissolve the oil better and keep it suspended so it would get back to the compressor.
I've not heard of R-12 being used as an industrial solvent but I have no reason to doubt it.
The chlorinated hydrocarbons were great solvents. Before it was banned, R-11 was widely used in industry to clean components. With a boiling temp of around 75 degrees, you could easily store it as a liquid and once used, simply let it dry to room temp and the stuff would evaporate leaving no residue.

Dont be letting all of our secrets out!

 

[Jim greengo]

I bought over a dozen clean cans of R-12 last year for under $10/can from a guy that worked in the electronics salvage industry. He said they used it to clean keyboards as it was more convenient then running an air compressor to blow the dust out---clearly PRE-regulations era. My AC friend claims that there were no issues with R-12 back then, it was non-toxic and doesn't burn. He won't go near some of the newer refrigerants, as they can cause cancer or neural disorders.

 

[like2wheel]

I bought over a dozen clean cans of R-12 last year for under $10/can from a guy that worked in the electronics salvage industry. He said they used it to clean keyboards as it was more convenient then running an air compressor to blow the dust out---clearly PRE-regulations era. My AC friend claims that there were no issues with R-12 back then, it was non-toxic and doesn't burn. He won't go near some of the newer refrigerants, as they can cause cancer or neural disorders.

Pretty sure back in that era R12 was also used in the cans that supplied air for the portable air horns

 

[pi_guy]

We have a few bottles of R22 I think about 5 or 6 about the size of home propane bottle at the rink. The next time I see the owner I will ask what the price was. We are taking the ice down in ten day to repaint so I will see him soon. I will also ask how much R22 does the system use.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

It's do-able. Not that I need any. And if you're doing HVAC service work I presume you have a 608? AKA a license to print money apparently.

No, that's the license electricians have. HVAC is the lowest paying trade...

Tommy

 

[Jim greengo]

Plumbing pays the best.

 

[nsula_country]

I have only hired a plumber 2-3x. They seem to cost the most per hr/truck. Unless its HVAC and you have a 22 system. Then they charge $200/lb!



I only perform HVAC work and custom bush hogging when I want to for walking around money the wife don't know about. Electrical Engineering pays the bills.

CT

 

[nsula_country]

No, that's the license electricians have. HVAC is the lowest paying trade...

Tommy

Amen. Missed my calling as an Industrial Electrical Contractor. I hire several regular for work from a data drop to full on new equipment install.

Example 1. Data drop for a machine. 2 men, 3-5 hours, 20' 3/4" conduit to ceiling, conduit back down to switch is existing. Cat5 runs open in trusses, accessable with scissor lift that we sometimes provide. $1800-$2500.

Example 2. Connect a resistance welder to a I-Line bus. 40-50' of 4" conduit, 500 MCM Cu, 600A disco and fuses provided, $23,000. 1 day 2-3 hands.

I am seriously considering investigating requirements to become licensed.

CT

 

[Jeepster04]

I've slowly been gathering pure R134a from walmart. Most of the time when I go Ill buy a 12oz can for $4. Figure someday it will be like R12, keep a few cans of that on hand too. When I'm 80 Ill sell it to pay the power bill or something.

 

[threeputt]

I just bought a new Toyota last week and its got R134 in it. I think it will be a while before it goes. The R1234yf they told me is $100 per pound . I bought 30 pounds of R 22 in 2006 for $65. I think I will keep it for now

 

[TangoFoxTrot]

I've slowly been gathering pure R134a from walmart. Most of the time when I go Ill buy a 12oz can for $4. Figure someday it will be like R12, keep a few cans of that on hand too. When I'm 80 Ill sell it to pay the power bill or something.

It will be interesting to see that plays out, I don't think it will go down the same way, but who knows. The US completely botched phasing out R-12, they should have given it a much longer timeline, like allowed R-12 production for another decade but just forced the new cars to be R-134. R-12 was crazy expensive for a while and there were still a lot of perfectly useable cars on the road that used it.

I'm in the camp that the whole thing is just a scam anyway. It's always some eco doomsday around the corner.

 

[Jim greengo]

It will be interesting to see that plays out, I don't think it will go down the same way, but who knows. The US completely botched phasing out R-12, they should have given it a much longer timeline, like allowed R-12 production for another decade but just forced the new cars to be R-134. R-12 was crazy expensive for a while and there were still a lot of perfectly useable cars on the road that used it.

I'm in the camp that the whole thing is just a scam anyway. It's always some eco doomsday around the corner.

Exactly

 

[nsula_country]

I've slowly been gathering pure R134a from walmart. Most of the time when I go Ill buy a 12oz can for $4. Figure someday it will be like R12, keep a few cans of that on hand too. When I'm 80 Ill sell it to pay the power bill or something.

Its a gamble. I know people that bought pallets of R-22 in the 90's. In the late 2000's and 2010's sold it for a very nice profit. Same with pallets of romex when it was cheap. He bought a semi trailer load and retired off of it when copper spiked.

CT

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I'm in the camp that the whole thing is just a scam anyway. It's always some eco doomsday around the corner.

I used to proctor the EPA exams. I have the same line of thought as you...

Tommy

 

[bds1984]

I've slowly been gathering pure R134a from walmart. Most of the time when I go Ill buy a 12oz can for $4. Figure someday it will be like R12, keep a few cans of that on hand too. When I'm 80 Ill sell it to pay the power bill or something.

I have thought of doing that as well when I see cans for under $4 occasionally at Menards but I already have enough cans of everything else in my garage. Who knows... maybe it'll be worth its weight in gold in ten years.

 

[bds1984]

Pricing has been absurd for a while now. I got 608 and 609 certified and invested in equipment to head this **** off at the pass. F*em.

Absurd is an understatement. It wasn't all that long ago that small cans of R22 went for $10-12 and now they're 10-15 times that.

 

[LNKMK8]

I managed to buy about 20lbs of R22 today for 50 cents a pound at an estate sale I'll be prepared the next time our AC needs a pound or two to top it off.

 

[Jim greengo]

I managed to buy about 20lbs of R22 today for 50 cents a pound at an estate sale I'll be prepared the next time our AC needs a pound or two to top it off.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I managed to buy about 20lbs of R22 today for 50 cents a pound at an estate sale I'll be prepared the next time our AC needs a pound or two to top it off.

Why not just fix the leak?

Tommy

 

[acmikee]

I wont use customer supplied refrigerant. unless its new and factory sealed and if you supply the parts then there's warranty

 

[nsula_country]

Last keg of R-22 I bought was about $360. Last year a Mechanical Engineer at work asked me if I wanted some refrigerant he found clearing out his late fathers shed. I accepted. Brought me a sealed keg of R-22!

CT

 

[SGKent]

I suspect that some of the refrigerants change just like pesticides do. The patents run out and suddenly when they do generics rise up that are the same. Suddenly some article comes out that Oh No this is really bad for the environment, and EPA bans it, to be replaced by a patented item. I think they do the same thing using lawsuits sometimes. The lawsuit kills the generic and a new and improved patented item replaces it. The settlements in the lawsuits are pennies compared to the profits on the patents.

 

[danski0224]

I suspect that some of the refrigerants change just like pesticides do. The patents run out and suddenly when they do generics rise up that are the same. Suddenly some article comes out that Oh No this is really bad for the environment, and EPA bans it, to be replaced by a patented item. I think they do the same thing using lawsuits sometimes. The lawsuit kills the generic and a new and improved patented item replaces it. The settlements in the lawsuits are pennies compared to the profits on the patents.

This.

 

[slow]

No question on that. R134a is now bad in cars, but it is sold as "compressed air" cans designed to spray directly into the air.

 

[Jim greengo]

I suspect that some of the refrigerants change just like pesticides do. The patents run out and suddenly when they do generics rise up that are the same. Suddenly some article comes out that Oh No this is really bad for the environment, and EPA bans it, to be replaced by a patented item. I think they do the same thing using lawsuits sometimes. The lawsuit kills the generic and a new and improved patented item replaces it. The settlements in the lawsuits are pennies compared to the profits on the patents.

Exactly

 

[nsula_country]

Go figure!

Between using 134a as a propellant and the Glyphosate scandal going on, the current refrigerant changes coming don't surprise me at all. It's all Bureaucracy, Governmental and Profits.

CT

 

[unslow1]

The new automotive refrigerant R1234yf goes wholesale for $600.... for a 10lb cylinder! We now bill 1234yf by the OUNCE at our dealership..... Also, I have to be EPA-certified to purchase a 10lb of 1234yf (or a 30lb of R134a), but any ******* can walk into Autozone and buy a small hand grenade of refrigerant without any credentials or recovery equipment.
My father-in-law sold/serviced dairy equipment for years, and would absolutely **** if he saw how much "freon" costs these days!

The local Advance Auto had a flyer with the 1234YF on sale for $649. It's normally $800.

 

[like2wheel]

The local Advance Auto had a flyer with the 1234YF on sale for $649. It's normally $800.

And that's a 10lb cylinder.

 

[bonneyman]

Why not just fix the leak?

Tommy

Could be hidden in a place he can't easily see - or fix? if I had a small leak in a coil I'd choose to top it off every year rather than rip the system apart. Then again if the A/C suddenly quits I have evap cooling as a back-up.

 

[Mike007]

$100 a LB.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

The new automotive refrigerant R1234yf goes wholesale for $600.... for a 10lb cylinder! We now bill 1234yf by the OUNCE at our dealership..... Also, I have to be EPA-certified to purchase a 10lb of 1234yf (or a 30lb of R134a), but any ******* can walk into Autozone and buy a small hand grenade of refrigerant without any credentials or recovery equipment.
My father-in-law sold/serviced dairy equipment for years, and would absolutely **** if he saw how much "freon" costs these days!

Before 2018 anyone could buy non-ozone depleting refrigerants. Now you have to be certified to buy those same refrigerants in containers over 2#. Anyone can buy "small" cans under 2#. The "hand grenades" are intended for DIY MVAC repairs. Any technician who services MVACs commercially or professionally must be EPA 609 Certified.

Tommy

 

[nsula_country]

Getting a 609 is easier than 608 Universal. Took both test at the same time. But 99% of "non professional" people don't have either.

CT